Party People 2 – Doors | Redemption Church

Marshal BlessingSermons

The church is made up of people:  party people.

 Party Mission Door Plano

The church is not a building, but it still has doors.

These are doors to areas that the party yet to reach.  As Christians we should look and pray for open doors. When we find them, we should boldly step through to share the Good News of our Savior and bring others into the celebration.  Every door is a reason.. so rejoice because it can bring us and others closer to Jesus.

Party People 2 – Doors | Redemption Church from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

 

Party People 2 – Doors

Sermon Notes by Marshal Blessing

Redemption Church Plano Tx – An Apostolic Bible Believing Jesus Centered Church that loves people!

 
Party People  Welcome.
Last week Pr. Chris talked to us about how our relationship with God should cause us to rejoice;
our faith life should be a celebration; we should be Party People!  If you missed, check it out online.
What’s a party without party games?  So I brought back Bible Lotto!
What’s the name of the church that meets at 903 W. Parker Rd. in Plano on Sunday afternoons? [Redemption] Today I want to talk to you about the church, about redemption, and about doors.
Picture of The Doors
No, not “The Doors.”  First, let’s back up and focus on the church.
It has been said before, but it bears repeating: The building is not the church.  People are the church! Turn to someone and tell them “You are the church.”
The Church (The Party) Can be Anywhere
The building is where the church meets.  The building is one place the party happens.
This is church, the church is here today.    But you’re still the church when you leave.  You are still the church when you’re at work, or at school, or at the mall, or at home with your family.
And if you’re watching this online, wherever you’re at, the church is there too.
The church can be anywhere.  We move from place to place when we gather on Wednesday nights for Connect Group, because the church can be anywhere.
And since we’re talking about how church should be like a party; church should be a celebration.
The party can be anywhere.
When you’re young you always try to find out where’s the good party at?  The good parties were exclusive, hidden…  God’s party isn’t like that.  God’s party can be anywhere.  Dancing in the street.
Psalm 100:1 ESV  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the Earth!
God himself brought the party from Heaven to earth.  He sent angels to announce it with glad tidings of great joy.  He made it accessible.  Last week we talked about our mission, the Great Commission.  Our mission is to take it with us, to spread it, to share it, to bring other along.
God doesn’t want this to be an isolated exclusive thing.  God wants everyone to be at this party.
In the Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a man throwing a great banquet, a party, and he sends out his servants to bring people.  He has to send them out three times.  Look everywhere.  Bring anyone.
This is a picture of God, he wants everyone to be a part of His party.   If you love God, you should want everyone to be part of His party.  If a party is good, then you want to bring people to it.
In this case, you can bring the party to them.      How?
Look for Doors
I told you, the church is not a building, but it still has doors.  These doors can be anywhere.
Colossians 4:3 NIV  And pray for us, also, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Look for opportunities to share your faith with people.  Look for moments when they are open to receiving the good news of Jesus Christ.  Look for opportunities to bring people into this party.
Where your life touches someone else’s life there could be a door there.  It may not be open at first.  Wait, watch, pray for an open door.  Sometimes you have to knock.
Mitch Hedberg – joke.
In our case, I hope the music is too loud on our side, and we’re still the ones knocking.
Jesus is our example.  Jesus knocks.
Revelation 3:20 NIV  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and him with me.
And Jesus tells us to knock.
Matthew 7:7 NIV  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Sometimes, a door may not open unless you knock.
Colossians 4:6 NIV Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Our objective is to find an open door.  Sometimes we have to take the initiative.
Build Doors
Anglican Priest and abolitionist John Newton famously said,
“People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”
I would modify it slightly, “People are lonely because they build walls but they don’t build doors.”
Where ever our life meets someone else’s there can be a door there.
Be intentional.  Develop relationships with people.
2 Kings 4:8 NIV One day Elisha went to Shunem.  And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal.  So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.
He literally found an open door.  But then you could say that Elisha builds a door as well
“What can be done for you?”  He presents an opportunity to demonstrate God’s love in her life.
Be intentional about everything you do.  I wear this belt buckle for a reason.
Everything you do can build doors.
Colossians 4:5 NIV Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders, make the most of every opportunity.
You can watch football with your friends, or you can also be building doors.
You can eat lunch with coworkers, or you can also be building doors.
You can go through life alongside other people and never have a meaningful conversation, or build doors.
Make the most of every opportunity.
The King James translates that last phrase as “redeem the time.”  Better to redeem time than waste it.
We invite people for board games, but we also try to redeem that time in their life and ours.
We are “Redemption” Church.
But you need to be ready for when you see that open door, because you need to be ready to step through.
You Have to Step Through
These aren’t the doors of the church.  These are doors of places where the party needs to go.
When someone opens one of those doors, that’s your chance to take it to them.
Be bold.  Again, Jesus is our example.
Revelation 3:20 NIV  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and him with me.
It doesn’t matter if you develop a relationship with someone and live a joyful, moral life alongside them, if they never hear about Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers, they will miss out.
When they give you an opportunity, you need to tell them the Good News.
Colossians 4:4 NIV Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly.  I pray that you may proclaim it clearly.  That’s how you should proclaim it, clearly, boldly, in a way they can understand.  We should proclaim it.  Step through that door.
***MUSICIAN***
When you step through that door, you’re not leaving the party.  You’re taking the party into a new place.  You’re going from the party to the party.  How is that possible.
Now, here’s the weird thing.  Here’s part of the mystery.  Jesus is the door.
John 10:9 NASB  “I am the door.  If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
By looking for these open doors, and stepping through them to share the Gospel, you are bringing Jesus into your life as well as into the other person’s.
We want them to enter into the party.  We want them to enter into faith in Jesus, but when we step through that door to reach out to them we grow in our faith as well.
Remember, this is how we can “redeem the time.”  In this way, Jesus redeems our whole life.
If you love Jesus, look for Him.  Look for these open doors.  Pray for them.  And step through them.
At the end of service every week we invite you to step out from where you’re at, gather at the front, and talk to God.  Pray for me that God would open doors in my life.  Pray that God would open doors in your life.  Pray that we would be bold to step through them and proclaim the gospel.

Redemption Church Plano Tx

Come worship with us! We have an energetic Afternoon worship service! Sunday Church at 3pm is pretty fun.